NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Fats Domino is named ‘honorary grand marshal’

NEW ORLEANS

The music of rock ’n’ roll Hall of Fame performer Fats Domino will “float” through the streets of New Orleans this Carnival season.

Domino has been named honorary grand marshal of the Krewe of Orpheus, the star-studded Carnival club that traditionally parades the night before Mardi Gras.

Although he won’t be riding in the March 3 parade, his eldest son, Antoine Domino III, is expected to ride on a float equipped with a piano and speakers to perform his father’s greatest hits, such as “Blue Monday,” “The Fat Man,” “Blueberry Hill” and “Walking to New Orleans.”

Other family members are expected to ride and throw coaster-size, gold-record doubloons and other Fats Domino-themed trinkets from the float.

New Orleans artist Michael Hunt has designed a poster to commemorate the occasion. The posters will be autographed by Domino and available for purchase.

Mardi Gras is March 4.

Domino, 85, moving a little slow and his speech low, smiled for friends, family and a handful of news media who gathered Friday in his suburban New Orleans living room as he was honored by the Krewe of Orpheus with a medallion proclaiming him honorary grand marshal.

“I’m happy to do it,” he said, but added that he hasn’t changed his mind about riding on a float.

“No way,” he said.

Associated Press